Question

Statement 1: Alcohols are easily protonated than phenols
Statement 2: Alcohols undergo intermolecular hydrogen bonding due to the presence of highly electronegative oxygen

• A. If both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true and the statement 2 is the correct explanation of the statement 1
• B. If both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true but statement 2 is not the correct explanation o f the statement 1
• C. If Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false
• D. If Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

In phenols, the lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom are delocalised over the benzene ring due to resonance and hence are not easily available for protonation. On the other hand, in alcohols, the lone pairs of electrons on oxygen atom are localized due to the absence of resonance and hence are easily available for protonation